What happened
On 9 October 2017, a Cameron Z-375 hot air balloon, registration G-VBFO, was conducting a public transport flight near Royst and Hertfordshire. The flight, which departed from Shuttleworth, Bedfordshire, carried 13 passengers and one pilot.
As the balloon approached a landing site in a stubble field, the wind speed had increased to approximately 14 kt, which was stronger than the initial forecast. The aircraft made a firm impact with the ground, resulting in the basket bouncing multiple times and dragging across the field for about 60 metres. During the initial impact, a passenger was ejected from the rear right compartment. The passenger moved forward over the basket, striking another occupant, before falling in front of the basket as it continued to bounce. The passenger sustained serious injuries.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the circumstances of the landing and the effectiveness of the safety procedures. The investigation noted that the balloon was lighter than usual because four scheduled passengers failed to arrive, and a ground crew member had joined the flight to maintain weight. This resulted in one compartment containing only three occupants instead of the usual four.
Investigators also reviewed the pre-flight safety briefings. While the pilot conducted briefings in accordance with the company operations manual, several passengers reported that the instructions were difficult to hear. Furthermore, passengers noted that the briefing did not adequately prepare them for the dynamic nature of the landing.
Findings
- The passenger likely lost their grip or was unable to maintain the landing position due to the force of the impact.
- The compartment from which the passenger fell was less crowded than usual, which may have made ejection easier.
- The wind speed at the time of landing was higher than the forecast provided to the pilot.
- The safety briefing failed to sufficiently communicate the potential for a bumpy or unstable landing.
Safety action
Following the incident, the operator committed to improving the delivery of safety information, including the potential use of laminated safety cards. The CAA has also implemented measures to ensure flight examiners specifically monitor the quality and content of passenger safety briefings during competency checks.